DOLE to give P10k aid to OFWs affected by travel ban to nCoV-affected territories

Overseas Filipino workers who are affected by the temporary travel ban in light of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) coutbreak will receive P10,000 cash assistance, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Monday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Hans Cacdac made the announcement at the sidelines of the public hearing on the government response on the nCoV before the Senate Committee on Health.

“Most of them are supposed to go to Hong Kong, para hindi naman sila maipit, we extended to them the assistance. We gave them P10,000 financial assistance, and if they want to go back to their respective provinces, we provide for their travel arrangements,” Bello said.

“They can also stay in OWWA’s safe house until the ban is lifted,” Bello added.

In a separate memorandum to OWWA, acting Secretary Renato Ebarle said the aid will also help OFWs in their transport back to their places of origin.

Stranded OFWs can occupy the OWWA halfway house while arrangements for their travel to the provinces are being made, Ebarle added.

According to DOLE, hundreds of OFWs bound mostly for Hong Kong and Macau were stranded at the Manila airports on Monday following the travel ban imposed by President Duterte.

On Tuesday, the number of confirmed deaths from the novel coronavirus outbreak spiked to 425 in China, after authorities in Hubei province reported 64 new fatalities. 

The Department of Health confirmed two cases of nCoV infection in the country, one of which led to fatality, the first death due to nCoV outside China.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said as of Monday the Department of Health has recorded 80 persons under investigation—including the first two confirmed cases, the 30 who tested negative, and 48 who are awaiting the results of laboratory tests. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News